Referrals and Testimonials

“My biggest challenge was figuring out a training program that I trusted and that I could implement considering my obligations to work and family. On my own, I would not have made the right decisions about adjusting my training plan when my schedule or training progress required it. That combined with the feedback from each workout summary report I submitted gave me 100% confidence that I would be able to look back at the end of the race and say that I did the very best I could on that day. I know now that Triathlon can continue to be a hobby for years to come without completely taking over my life, even full 140.6 races once in a while. Wannatri offers a straightforward, fact-based program custom tailored to my needs as an athlete. I am very pleased with the outcome of my first 140.6 distance race.”

“I very much enjoy the collaborative approach of coach/athlete as partners. I’m an active participant, not just being told what to do. You listen to my input and make active use of my feedback. You also listen to my concerns, frustrations, fears, and whining; you gently push, motivate and encourage. I also value you are not ‘clipboards and whistles’ on the sidelines. You’re out there training, competing, and racing with us. I find that very inspiring. In doing the Ironman for the first time – I value the roles we each played. You are doing the thinking, the strategy, the long term and race planning, the cycles and periodization. My role is to make the time for the workouts, execute the plan, and provide feedback. Not having to do the strategic thinking means I can focus my mental and emotional energy on the training, the mental discipline, and just doing my best at each moment of training.”

“It truly is individualized coaching for the working professional. My peak training weeks barely inched above 16 hours per week, but every workout counted. This is the first time that I had daily workouts with a purpose. WannaTri listens! In addition, you take the time to explain the rationale behind certain workouts or training blocks as well as reminding me that it is okay to have a bad workout (in fact it is probably quite normal). I could not have raced as smart as I did this past go around without your training methodology and race execution plan. You allowed me to believe that I could push harder when I didn’t think I could and to back off and be mentally okay during certain sections of the race.”

“Training for an Ironman is not only doable but enjoyable. It doesn’t mean killing myself with tons of volume. The most important thing I learned was the specific purpose of each type of workout – speed/power, long slow, nutrition checks. One of the most helpful things that I received is guidance in determining which things were crucial versus which things I could do without. When I’ve trained in the past, I’ve copied a plan from online and basically did every single thing on it – regardless of how I was feeling. Having a coach walk me through the ups and downs of training, skipping things that didn’t make sense with how I was feeling, not only made training a lot more enjoyable but it also gave me the confidence that I was doing everything I needed to in order to properly prepare.”

“I feel like all of my workouts are reviewed with a keen eye. I think it would be easy as a coach to just look at the resulting time at the end of the week and make some casual comments or adjustments based on aggregate data. I feel like every new training block has been tailored based on all of my workouts from the previous set. I never feel like my workouts are out of place for my fitness or commitment level.”

“I didn’t know how to start. I knew you would know perfectly…What to do, how fast, how often, how to do it safe, how long, how to do it with a proper technique, etc.”

“Both of you are lifelong athletes and have both done the IM several times – giving me the ‘been there, done that’ knowledge and confidence. You cover and coach all the disciplines. I do not have to go to someone else – who doesn’t know me or my goals – for swim lessons or run analysis. You’re very friendly, down-to-earth, and open to all levels of athlete. You recognize the time limitations of working professionals. Very aware of proper build-up and volume to avoid over-training or training injuries. Individual plans customized to the athlete and the goal. You go beyond just the ‘schedule’ with things like the OWS and transition clinics. The price was right.”

“I’d probably say that preparation is KEY and that you two do a great job preparing students for their races. From something as small as having chapstick as a lubricant in a pinch to having a list of what to put in your transition bag to practicing transitions, I think you do a wonderful job preparing us for race day situations.”

“Easily the most important benefit I have seen from my time with Wannatri is my health/wellness/fitness level. Competition is simply a motivation to follow the training plan provided by my coaches. The training plan is a tool that has given me the ability to lose 40 lbs, lower my cholesterol, lower my body fat, and lower my resting heart rate. Getting faster is merely icing on the cake for me. My coaches have literally added years to my life.”

“I feel that everything is personalized and my coaches have a temperament that works very well for me. I have learned a great deal about training and triathlon from my coaches.”

“You’ve improved my life in ways that can’t be properly communicated with words, and unfortunately the words THANK YOU seem to fall very short, but they are the best words I can find in our language. Thank you SO MUCH!”

“I get the opportunity to collaborate on my training and racing schedule instead of just being told what to do. I really appreciate that. I also like when I receive feedback on a great workout or on the occasional crap workout. Sometimes it really boosts me mentally to know that you guys really are looking at my workout information. I also think it’s fantastic that you take the time to workout with me from time to time. It’s really nice.”

“You were both extremely supportive of my getting into the sport, as well as equally helpful during my first ever race experiences.”

“I don’t feel like a wanna-be triathlete anymore! I actually feel like a real triathlete who knows that I will be prepared when race day comes. However, if I had to pick only one benefit, learning to swim – and not just learning to swim – but learning to swim WELL is probably the biggest benefit that I’ve received. Yes, I’ve gotten stronger on the bike and stronger on the ever-evolving run which continues to need work, but I didn’t swim before April of 2010. I usually finish in the middle to top half of the swim leg. That’s HUGE.”

“This has been a great experience. I will continue to recommend your services to other athletes because I believe that your coaching works!”

“The support is what’s most valuable. You were encouraging from Day Zero. Through the run gait analysis — even though I looked a mess out there, you offered positive reinforcement in addition to the feedback. During the training process, if I had questions, or wasn’t able to push myself as much, you were there as a solid support system.”

“The coaching is superb! Plus the added value of the clinics, the race plans, the seasonal and annual training plans, the gear list, the education on nutrition and racing – it’s all very helpful. I’m usually fairly good at figuring things out on my own – but the Ironman was such a huge and daunting task that I wanted help. I had tried using one of the ‘standardized’ training plans from beginnertriathlete.com for my first Olympic; the Carlos O’Brien’s at Lake Pleasant. It’s good for what and how much, but not the drills and techniques and its not individualized. I wanted coaches with the ‘been there, done that’ knowledge who could translate that knowledge to what I specifically needed. In addition, though I have been running for years I’d never made the transition to heart rate/LT based training that I would need for IM. I also wanted to avoid any injuries or overtraining stress that would sideline me.”

“Providing a roadmap for improvement to any new triathlete who is willing to listen and learn. Your accumulative knowledge gained through racing many triathlons, including multiple Ironman races – provides a wealth of experience for others to learn from. Because your coaching is continually progressing in parallel to new approaches, students can grow with you as they progress to longer course racing, or podium finishes!”

“WannaTri is the perfect fit for anyone who wants to get active, but isn’t sure where to start.”

“I can see the results in my training times and have a favorable outlook on what’s to come. My stamina is back. I know what is coming, I am ready.”

“Patience and attention to detail during a coaching session and detailed analysis and session follow up emails containing summary information and customized practice sessions are invaluable. In both races I’ve completed since we’ve worked together (an Olympic and a half Ironman), I’ve felt more comfortable and efficient in the water, and much fresher on the bike due to my swim stroke efficiency. I improved my overall half Ironman PB by 10 minutes and am eager to see how my new stroke fairs this year at Ironman Arizona.”

“Sometimes there is no one to talk to about questions, concerns or achievements. You are there for all three. I find that very valuable.”

“I had dramatic improvement in my swim times and dropping my 1000yd swim 25% over the course of a few swim lessons.”

“I had a lot of fear about open water swimming, not because of the open water itself or even the mass race starts, but I had no confidence in my own fitness or ability. Persistent encouragement from my coaches took me from a scared swimmer to a confident swimmer, that actually looks forward to race starts.”

“Having already completed many triathlons (ranging from sprint through Ironman), I was looking for a coach who I could work and consult with to fine tune specific weaknesses – most notably my swimming. What drew me to WannaTri was the ability to customize the coaching based on specific requirements. Many other coaches seemed to offer a ‘one glove fits all approach’, however with WannaTri I was able to select the right training package to meet my goals.”

“I think that the coaching plans are solid. I know that some workouts are challenging, but that I have never been given a workout that seems ridiculous or injury-causing. I hear about crazy plans from other friends and when I hear them, all I can think of, ‘wow, some day that’s going to cause an injury.’ I never fear getting an injury from my prescribed workouts. I know that I will always show up on race day fully prepared (if not slightly over-prepared), injury-free and not debilitated the day after the race. It’s a great feeling to know that I’ve prepared for and completed two half-Ironman distance races without any problems physically or mentally.”

“My entry into triathlon came from being lifetime cyclist that had become overweight and cycling alone wasn’t taking the weight off. Running really started to help with that, and then adding swimming just seemed like a logical next step. I had to learn to swim pretty much from scratch and gradually add more running into the mix. Having Wannatri to help me learn to swim, and putting structure around my training really helped me overcome my weight plateau. I love my coaching and my coaches.”

“I learned to swim! I thought I was a decent swimmer but after one lesson with Sarah I realize that I didn’t know at all.”

“Constrained by work and family commitments, I find the workouts to be achievable and focused enough to get results. We are not in this to ‘just’ make it. We understand my need to better ‘me’ and have focused on what it’s going to take. There is not a lot of fluff in there. For the person who has been trying to make it work on their own, but just not able to put in the planning time and/or not seeing the results from that planning. WannaTri saves me time and thinking by planning my training, I just have to follow. I am confident that they know what I need to be doing to get better. They actually make my life easier!”

“Wanna Tri is a coaching company that understands the working professional that wants to get the best performance possible out of what can be a limited availability of training time. They cater each program specific to the athlete, accommodating goals, schedules, and realistic abilities and expectations. They don’t simply throw a blanket program over all of their athletes.”

“Fantastic! I’m very happy with the results — no injuries at all, and improving every week. When you look back and you compare what you have improved in that period of time you get more reasons to keep going. WannaTri are professionals more than anything, very friendly with an excellent attitude. They solve all my doubts, they encourage me to keep going, and work with me side by side, no matter the distance between us. I have been working out for more than a year nonstop and I don’t feel tired or bored.”

“The most important benefit of WannaTri’s honest, attentive, and supportive coaching was overcoming my self-inflicted limitations. I was the only person telling me “I can’t”, so now I know what I can actually accomplish with the right direction and support. WannaTri is the perfect fit for anyone who wants to get active, but isn’t sure where to start.”

“WannaTri inspired me to want to step outside my box, and get off the couch. I knew that I would be in great hands throughout the Couch to 5k process. My challenge was the list of excuses I created to avoid running. In the past I have dealt with knee pain, and thought that running would make it worse. But it surprised me that with the proper form, I didn’t experience any discomfort during or after my training workouts. The coaching I received was essential to my success in running a 5k. Seth and Sarah committed their time to analyze my existing form. They provided detailed feedback on changes I can make to improve in my stride so that I don’t use too much energy in movements. I really enjoying working with the two of you, and appreciate all of the training information and encouragement. I know not everyone gets the chance to run with their coach on their first run, so thank you for taking that additional time with me. I hope I made you proud, it won’t be my last race!”

“Sarah is a very patient and intuitive teacher. She assigns drills best suited for your strengths and weaknesses. I was shocked at how quickly I was swimming more efficiently. I have recommended her to other triathletes and I will continue to use her for touch-ups in the future.”

“It’s quite simple – I wanted to improve my overall swim technique. I must stress – this wasn’t to only improve my swim times, but also to improve my swim efficiency which would in turn help with my bike and run legs. I’ve been extremely impressed with the coaching to-date. The attention to detail is second to none.”

“I believe that WannaTri is for ANY level of triathlete, from beginner to experienced! Not only do I feel that I am in the best triathlon shape thus far, but I have learned a tremendous amount about ‘why’ I am training the way I am training. I am big on knowing ‘why’…Seth and Sarah take the time to share their coaching knowledge along with their personal philosophies, methodologies, and experience that enhances my training experience. I train and compete in triathlon to ENJOY it! They are both very positive and upbeat. They are fun, and motivating — good coaching qualities! Up until I decided to finally do a full Ironman, the longest tri I’ve ever done was various 70.3 races. I knew that I needed to have a proven ‘coach’ that has both IM experience, AND has trained other athletes for their first IM event in order for me to have a great IM experience!”

“The feedback from my post workout entries was so valuable in my training. I had been a runner for eight years and had experienced the nausea, fatigue, headaches, loss of appetite etc. after a 4+ hour run. I had always written it off to a side effect of running for a really long time while consuming large amounts of Gatorade and GUs. Sure, that was part of the problem, but there is a lot more to it. Coach Sarah helped me figure out what I needed to change to avoid these problems on my next long training ride or long run. What a huge help! Once I got my nutrition down, I don’t think I ever experienced nausea during my triathlon training. I was also able to do my long run the day after my long ride without being totally wiped out. I’m not saying this was easy. The half ironman training was a challenging 6 month period for me. I had added swimming and cycling to my running regimen and there was an adjustment. It was hard work and there were some weeks where I was really tired. Sarah recognized this from my feedback and adjusted my training accordingly. Without her, I could have gone into the tunnel of darkness (aka overtraining) and been out for the rest of the year. Instead, Sarah adjusted my plan, and I was able to recover before ramping up again in preparation for the 70.3.

My experience with the half ironman in Boise was incredible! I made up my mind to enjoy every minute. I can’t say I loved the swim, but I survived. The bike route was hilly and windy. I paced myself with my heart rate monitor using the guidelines given to me by Coach Sarah. The run was fantastic. Once I found my running legs, I kept on moving. Still following the guidelines given to me by Coach Sarah, I kept up with my calories and hydration. I ran into the finish line strong, with tears in my eyes and a huge smile on my face! I couldn’t believe I finished. It had been just over a year that I had started cycling and 9 months of when I started to learn how to swim. I actually did it! In my opinion, athletes who want to step up their performance and get the most out of their endurance training are the ones who would benefit with working with the coaches at WannaTri. There is some personal responsibility. The plan is set up and it is up to the athlete to follow the program. I love the social aspect of group runs and rides; however, with a personalized plan, you have to make choices on where and when you can train. Most of the time, it worked out that I could have the group support. Other times, I had long, lonely rides or runs ahead of me. We all start somewhere. It was terrifying and overwhelming, but exciting and rewarding at the same time. I trusted in my coaches and my training plan to get me where I needed to be. Coach Sarah and Coach Seth not only set me up with my training to be successful in my first 70.3 and my first Ironman, they encouraged and cheered me on through this process. Having someone believe in you makes all the difference in the world.”

“When I signed up for Ironman AZ, I had absolutely no experience or background as a runner, a swimmer or a cyclist. I knew I took on a very lofty goal & would have a LONG road ahead both literally & figuratively. I began training in Feb. (10 months before Ironman). I couldn’t swim more than a lap or run over 2 miles & I had never mounted a road bike. Sarah & Seth had their work cut out for them that’s for sure but even from the beginning they were confident that I would get there and they helped instill that confidence in me especially during my moments of serious doubt. I remember my first WannaTri Open Water Swim Clinic in a wetsuit when I had a complete panic attack 100 yards in. I cried out “WTH was I thinking signing up for Ironman!” Since that day, I had to get my head in the game, not give up & know I was in good hands. Between my swim lessons with Sarah, run gait analysis with Seth, a slow but steady build over the months through my Training Peaks schedule & LT testing, I experienced some incredible gains. Sarah & Seth were always there to cheer their athletes on at races & available to answer any question or concern. I had issues with my knees/IT & hips throughout the year which held me back in my run progression. They knew how to ease me up without losing my progress. My bike grew strong, my swim grew slow but thankfully with my final swim lesson/adjustments & pushing my distance in open water, it clicked! I was elated to make it through the 4000 meter swim a week before Ironman. IMAZ 2014 ended up with the worst winds in IMAZ history BUT I made it to the end! The best part; there was Sarah & Seth all along the way cheering for their athletes. Seth was even there at the right moments during the run when I was at my lowest low to encourage & talk me through. They know what it takes and I was lucky to have had them by my side throughout my journey. In 10 months I found an endurance athlete within me & I am now an IRONMAN!“